Part One

Is Jesus the Only God?

Are all religions the same?

The world in which we live today can summarized by:

Religious pluralism; all religions are the same, or lead to the same destination

Even other religions themselves do not say that all religions are the same (e.g. Islam)

If all religions are the same, then why do religious elders get so upset when people convert to Christianity?

Every religion at its core is exclusive… but not all can be true.

Where was Jesus born?

Bethlehem in Judea That's like Muzarabani or Zaka Small village with one donkey, a

scotch cart and a 120y. The hotel is a brothel with plastic

sheets There’s a beer garden Then lived in Nazareth – like Gokwe

Who were Jesus parents?Luke 1:26-3126 Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by

God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary. 28 And having come in, the angel said to her, "Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!" 29 But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. 30 Then the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS.

NKJV

Who were Jesus parents?

Matt 1:18-2018 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as

follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. 19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly.

NKJV

Who were Jesus parents?Deut 22:13-2113 "If any man takes a wife, and goes in to her, and detests

her, 14 and charges her with shameful conduct, and brings a bad name on her, and says, 'I took this woman, and when I came to her I found she was not a virgin,' 15 "then the father and mother of the young woman shall take and bring out the evidence of the young woman's virginity to the elders of the city at the gate. 16 And the young woman's father shall say to the elders, 'I gave my daughter to this man as wife, and he detests her; 17 now he has charged her with shameful conduct, saying, "I found your daughter was not a virgin," and yet these are the evidences of my daughter's virginity.' And they shall spread the cloth before the elders of the city.

Who were Jesus parents?Deut 22:13-2118 Then the elders of that city shall take that man and

punish him; 19 and they shall fine him one hundred shekels of silver and give them to the father of the young woman, because he has brought a bad name on a virgin of Israel. And she shall be his wife; he cannot divorce her all his days. 20 But if the thing is true, and evidences of virginity are not found for the young woman, 21 then they shall bring out the young woman to the door of her father's house, and the men of her city shall stone her to death with stones, because she has done a disgraceful thing in Israel, to play the harlot in her father's house; so you shall put away the evil from among you.

So in context...

He came from a small rural village He was born to a teenage girl who was unmarried at the

time. He was adopted by a labourer guy named Joseph. up until about age 30, was lived i n relative obscurity. It appears that he had 2 brothers James and Jude, who

later went on to write books of the Bible, went to school and did the things that normal kids did. he probably worked a job with his dad as a carpenter He was probably in good shape because he was a

labourer and had calluses on his hands. And he walked a lot, so he was probably in pretty good

shape. Ultimately He was put to death at around 33

What have others said?

Here is a man who was born in an obscure village, the Child of a peasant woman. He worked in a carpenter shop until He was thirty, and then for three years He was an itinerant preacher. He never wrote a book. He

never held an office. He never owned a home. He never had a family. He never went to college. He never

put His foot inside a big city. He never travelled two hundred miles from the place where He was born. He never did one of the things that usually accompany

greatness. He had no credentials but Himself. He had nothing to do with this world except the naked power of His Divine manhood. While still a young man, the tide of popular opinion turned against Him. He was

turned over to His enemies.

He went through the mockery of a trial. He was nailed to a Cross between two thieves. His executioners gambled for the only piece of property He had on earth while He was dying—and that was His coat. When He was dead He was taken down and laid in a borrowed grave through the pity

of a friend. Such was His human life—He rises from the dead. Nineteen wide centuries have come and gone and today He is the Centrepiece of the human race and the Leader of the column of progress. I am within the mark

when I say that all the armies that ever marched, and all the navies that ever were built, and all the parliaments that ever sat, and all the kings that ever reigned, put together, have not affected the life of man upon this

earth as powerfully as has that One Solitary Life. --James C. Hefley

How is Jesus perceived?

2 Cor 11:3-4 3 But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent

deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

4For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted--you may well put up with it!

How is Jesus perceived?

Paul warns us that Jesus will often be portrayed in different ways....

People use Jesus as a marketing tool People compare themselves to Jesus John Lennon is quoted as saying

“We’re even bigger than Jesus now”

How is Jesus perceived?

Some people say that all religions are basically the same thing... But not when it comes to Jesus

Some Liberal Churches say “Jesus is a good man, but not the God man. Maybe the best man who’s ever lived, but not God.”

Jehovah’s Witness say “Jesus is a created being. He’s actually the archangel Michael .”

How is Jesus perceived?

The Mormons teach “He’s not eternal God, but he’s a polygamist man who was the half brother of Lucifer that became one of many God’s.”

The Unitarians - ”Jesus Christ is the incarnation of Mr. Rogers – that he’s a real l y super-duper nice, sweet guy, and he only has nice things to say, and he wants to take everyone to Neverland.”

How is Jesus perceived?

New agers – influenced by Deepak Chopra who said, “I see Christ as a state of consciousness that we can all aspire to.”

Scientologists (like Tom Cruise) “he is an implant forced upon a thetan about a million years ago.”

There is a Canadian, nudist, arsonist cult that has decided that the name “Jesus Christ” is a code word for getting high on magic mushrooms so that then you can get naked and set things on fire!

How is Jesus perceived?

If you go to a Bahá' í , they will say that “Jesus i s a manifestation of God, or perhaps a prophet of God, but inferior to Mohamed and Bahá'u'lláh.”

Buddhists - “Jesus is not God, but he’s an enlightened man much like the Buddha.”

Hindus have differing views with generally, “Jesus Christ is not God, but he is an enlightened man like Krishna,” or, “If he is God, he is one of more than a million God’s, so he’s not the only God. He’s not exclusive and special .”

Muslims “Jesus is not God – he is merely a man and that he’s a prophet, but he’s a prophet who is lesser than the prophet Mohamed.”

What did He say about Himself?

I am the Way the Truth and the Life - John 14:6

If you have seen me you have seen the Father John 14:9

I and the Father are one -John 10:30 For I have come down from heaven, not to

do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. John 6:38

Other religious leaders like Mohammed, Joseph Smith and Mary Baker Eddy claim encounters with angels or visits to heaven

Highlights of His life on Earth

Came from a non-place with no breeding, no home and no money

Taught things contrary to culture Challenged the political order by

comparing Himself to Caesar Challenged religious order by calling

them names and breaking the Law Called Himself a king Called Himself God

What conclusion do you draw?

A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher.

He would either be a lunatic – on a level with the man who says he is a poached egg – or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your

choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God; or else a madman or something worse. You can shut Him up for a fool, you can spit at Him and kill him as a demon; or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord

and God. But let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He

has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.--C.S. Lewis

What defines Him from a Lunatic?

Miracles – no one else performed to the same level

Love – most other religions based on duty

Himself – others focus on teaching Crucifixion – there have been many

martyrs Resurrection – a problem!

The Problem of the Resurrection

Defines the difference between Christianity and ALL other religions

You need proof – for and against At that time EVERYONE was against

Him Jews and Romans had to prove He

did not rise

The Problem of the Resurrection

Paul wrote a letter stating there were 500 witnesses of Him after resurrection

He issued a challenge for people to ask them

Paul could not do this if there were no witnesses

Too many historical accounts of death, empty tomb and resurrection – more than any other event in history

No one could provide a corpse

What they all say....

Very few people have ever said that they are God

No world religion other than Christianity and Jesus who said “I am God.”

Mohamed said, “I’m not God.” Buddha said, “I’m not God.” Krishna said, “I’m not God.” Gandhi said, “I’m not God.” Jesus said, “I’m God.” Mostly cult leaders claimed to be God and then

died horrible deaths and took their followers with them.

What they all say....

No one claims to be sin free Mohamed said, “I’m a sinner.” In the

Koran he says, “I’m a mere man just like you – a mere mortal .”

Gandhi says, “I’m a sinner.” Buddha says, “I’m a sinner.” Krishna says, “I’m a sinner.” Billy Graham says, “I’m a sinner.” Mother Theresa said, “I’m a sinner.” Jesus says, “I’m not. I’m not a sinner.”

Why can we trust Jesus?

Reason 1: His life and teachings were utterly consistent

“A true defence of any claim must also deal with the evidences that challenge or contradict it. Truth is not only a matter of offense (in that it makes certain assertions), it is also a matter a defence (that it must be able to me a sensible response to counterpoints that are raised). A challenge emerges as to whether to trust a claimant to deity that may have some unique features that attract, while covering up a multitude of contradictory teachings or lifestyle. The entire life of anyone making prophetic or divine claims must be observed in concert with their teaching.”-Zacharias

Why can we trust Jesus?

Reason 2: His physical resurrection is His greatest proof of all

Jesus gave the greatest proof of His authority by accurately predicting His death and the time of His bodily resurrection. •The fulfilment of this prediction reveals Jesus 'uniqueness above all contenders•Consider this: in all of history, all a sceptic has ever needed to do to disprove the claims of Christ is to produce His body…surely with all the forensic and archaeological technologies of today this wouldn’t be hard. But this has never happened. Jesus proved precisely what He said He would.

“Then the Jews demanded of him, "What miraculous sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this?" Jesus answered

them, "Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days." The Jews replied, "It has taken forty-six years to build this temple,

and you are going to raise it in three days?" But the temple he had spoken of was his body. After he was raised from the dead, his disciples recalled what he had said. Then they believed the Scripture and the words that Jesus had spoken.” –John 2:18-22